YUM!
Actually YUM and WOW!
The Fancy Food Show is one of our faves. It's like Xmas and Halloween trick or treating rolled into one. So many surprises were found this year, as we walked the aisles, taking in the gifts of the farm, factories, and start-up kitchens and enjoying the festive booths and costumes. And, of course, the food was amazing too!
What were some of this year's top trends?
Ancient grains like quinoa and chia
Gluten-free everything
Jerky, jerky and more jerky (s...

What a night! What a feast!
Food companies (and the journalists who love them) met one evening. The format was elegant tabletop displays. The booze flowed, thanks to PR sponsor Colangelo PR and new beverage company Solbeso (see "Best of Show").
The keyword seems to be FREE these days (and we don't just mean free samples). Gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free. But certainly not taste-free....

I was the Evelyn Wood of trade show junkies.
I had a crazy-busy week, but I love books and reading. I just HAD to get to Book Expo America (BEA) 2014. I raced through the aisles, voraciously "reading" as many books and trends as possible in a mere 120 minutes. Here's the CliffsNotes version of BEA 2014.
What's hot this year? Books made out of paper are still alive and well. Gift products and stationery are clearly now part of the whole book store experience. Tape is all the rage...

How sweet (and salty) it is!
Jerky, pop, and gluten-free are the magic words this year! And, of course, candy never goes out of style -- especially chocolate.
Did you know that 86% of all adults eat snacks? That's probably more than brush their teeth or have sex!
According to industry experts, the sweets and snacks business is a $42 billion industry (and growing). The average American spends $106 a year on snacks.
Crackers, nuts, seeds, and savory snacks are on the rise, as are yogur...

Going to "camp" as an adult is certainly fun. Especially when the American Camp Association is located in Atlantic City. The vibe at this show is different from any other conference/trade show. It's a true "community" and the people are warm and welcoming.
What's truly amazing is that the show is produced primarily by volunteers. It gives a whole new meaning to "let's put on a show!"
Technology, "pop-up activities," personalized and cool camp fashion, and new twists on traditional games ar...

Smile For the Camera!
With all of the new technology there was to offer at Biz Bash the biggest hits were oldies but goodies….photo booths! People love to ham it up for the cameras and nowadays there are so many ways to keep and share your pictures! Whosevent lets you email, facebook, or tweet your photos as the hard copy prints out simultaneously (@replies and #hashtags to the event are included in the posts….great for social media visability!).Motorbooth went high tech with the photo...

What are the hot (and cool) trends of 2013? The world seems to have gone nuts and gluten-free! And cheese springs eternal!
We also saw a comeback of some of our favorite childhood brands.
What's in a name? Sometimes a sm...

ShowGirlTalk arrived in Washington DC this past weekend, hungry for the latest in food trends, innovations and samples! The Fancy Food Show is always a favorite of ours, as the exhibitors tend to hold nothing back in their displays and enthusiasm for their products. An estimated 2,300 exhibitors filled the trade show floor, from over 100 countries around the globe. They showcased over 180,000 products, from subtle flavors of olive oil and vinegar, to mountains of cheese and new twists on childho...

Ever wish you could relive the glory days and go back to your favorite summer camp? Once we’re past childhood, there’s nothing we can do…unless we revive our experiences with other camp enthusiasts! ShowGirlTalk made the trip to Atlantic City where the National Camp Association was hosting their 30th Tri-State Camp Conference. As we mingled with people from all different kinds of camps and backgrounds, we were amazed by how little the conference has changed over the years. Sure, there are ...

The best way to attend this show is HUNGRY! Lots of free samples and an eclectic mix of snacks, equipment, services. This year featured a huge Japanese section. We also noticed LOTS and LOTS of bread! One would never know that Americans are carb-conscious these days. But our favorite booth of this year's show had to be the grilled octopus on the panini press. Not only was the food delish, but the guys who served it up were all smiles and service! Lots of tentacles...lots of taste.....